Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you Senator Cox for your question. As you're aware and as you've said, the government will provide $1.9 billion in planned equity to support the development of the Middle Arm precinct in Darwin, together with regional logistic hubs along key transport links. It is intended to be a multipurpose precinct, so I am not in a position at this point in time to rule in particular developments or rule out particular developments. But this investment will enable the precinct to be globally competitive and sustainable, with a focus on low-emission production, green hydrogen and critical minerals processing.

As you're probably aware, Senator Cox, demand for clean energy sources is growing, particularly in the Northern Territory, and Labor's investment will help position the Northern Territory and northern Australia to diversify their economy and create new jobs. This investment is not a subsidy for fossil fuels in the way that some people have characterised it. Rather, funding will go towards infrastructure that will support users to export clean energy that is critical to meeting our commitment to net zero, like green hydrogen and lithium batteries that are critical to decarbonisation.

Particularly in my previous role as shadow minister for Northern Australia, I spent a lot of time in the Northern Territory with my good friend Senator McCarthy, along with House of Representatives member from the Northern Territory Luke Gosling and Warren Snowdon, the former member, and now Marion Scrymgour. I know they are passionate advocates for the Northern Territory to diversify the economy up there and to take advantage of some of the incredible natural and mineral resources that the Northern Territory has. There are extremely exciting projects in the offing in the Northern Territory in that clean energy space, and I think they offer an opportunity to produce lots of very important jobs for that part of the country.